Santa, Stockings and Sewing!

Me and My Dad

My Sister, My Mum, and My Brother

Well, it's about time I posted all my news about Christmas and New Years before the holiday's are really over!! So here goes, btw.. this will take a few posts!

I may have mentioned this before, but this past Christmas was the first year my whole family wasn't together. And as this had to be decided a few months ago now (due to plane tickets etc) I had time to plan a little something extra for my family, a little idea I had.....

It was that I would do something that would bring us together, or connect us in some way, where we could still feel together. Remind us all that we were a family and that oceans couldn't stop that.

So I set to work. And played Santa! 

Shown above are just the front panels of the stockings, made out of my favorite Lulu DK fabrics! I picked fabric which I felt was right for each person too. Templates were made for everything so all sizes matched. And each little Felt person carried the characteristics of it's soon-to-be recipient! (Dad's also included Fred - when we were kids, it was the name given to the one little hair left on his bald head!!)

Then the felt figures were lightly glued on, and detailed with embroidery threads and moving eyes! The first initial of each person was also added to the stockings.

The back and front of them all were their Lulu DK fabrics, and then each were lined with a Donghia white linen. On the tops, I added white felt edging and a tab to hang them from! And for a little something extra I sewed on an assortment of solid and frosty white buttons, with sparkly silver thread.

I was really pleased with how they turned out, and seen as how I made them all with just a needle and thread (and pricked my fingers wayyy too many times!!) I was pretty proud of them too! I only hoped they would receive a warm welcome from my family!

Each (other than my own!!) was stuffed with little goodies, and a bigger present (if it fit! - otherwise I was wrapped to the side). Everyone also got a giant Hershey's Kiss and a Candy Cane!

Now of course, I would have loved to post the blow by blow of the process as I went through it before Christmas, but it would have spoiled the surprise if they all saw it here first!! I did enjoy those many evenings of listening to Christmas music on the radio and sewing away... It got me in a very festive mood!!

Below you'll see the finished products!

Finished! My Dad and I on the Mantlepiece on Christmas Day!

Finished! My Sister, Mum and Brother, just before I packed them up ready to be sent to England!

Apartment Redecoration Part Four!

Now although I haven't been able to make a start on painting my 'headboard' this weekend, I thought I'd show a bit more of my room! Above, are my book shelves, which I finally got up on the wall! Sat on studs, these babies aren't budging! (I've had scary book shelf falling moments before!!) Now, of course, I have my books in color order - is there any other way to have them?!! Ha!! I love that this picture shows off what a lovely pink my walls are...thank you to those bright sunshine filled mornings!

Below is my armchair, I love this chair..sitting in it relaxing and reading, its super comfy. (complete with sheepskin and more Lulu DK fabric - 'Isis' in Tourmaline) It's right at the end of my bed, and next to my huge windows...it's my little getaway. Although I swear Oscar thinks it's his...ahem..ha!

my boy...on "his" armchair!

Apartment Redecoration Part Two!!

So, this is my living room, The lamp and the rug are my Roomie's - sorry this pic isn't too great, I took it in the evening, and well, one of the sacrifices of living in NYC is the occasional lack of windows - The huge window in my room makes up for it though - which you'll see later!

And ahhh, my Sofa, oh how I love you!! Down filled, and an antique dream, it's absolute heaven to sink into....shame the photo doesn't show it off enough!! Also, you may notice the Lulu DK cushions! Perks of working for the company!! Bloomsbury in Tourmaline, and Chant in Sky...check out the fabrics here!

Well, when I moved in here the wall behind the bookcase shelves were an awful white, dirty and not so pleasant... So I chose a warm pale creamy brown, which goes a dream with the wood and the sofa..without being "beigey"!
Okay, so I like my lounge...it's pretty cosy, and super comfy, and still feels big even with the three seater sofa (again - imagine NYC apartments, and how rare this can be!!) And I promise to get better pictures asap!

There is just one thing I would love in here....and that's in the picture below! I have a soft spot for cow hide rugs...and this cool creamy beige and white would just add that bit of pop, lightness, and a much needed curvy shape into my living room...oh yes..love it!! (and the lamp too!!)

Lulu de Kwiatkowski "Lulu" Book Launch!

Hello All! Sorry this one's a little late - been a touch busy! Still, I thought I would share with you an event I was happy to attend last Thursday evening! As a previous employee of the wondrous textile company Lulu DK, I still keep in touch (almost daily!) with everyone there! I miss them!! So as such, Lulu De Kwiatkowski invited me to the launch of her AMMO book "Lulu" at Anthony Todd. This is a book I have been lucky enough to look through at my leisure already! It's an amazing piece of work - and art in itself, I highly recommend anyone to read and look through as soon as they get the chance!

It was great to see Lulu and she looked just stunning! And as she told me that night - with two boys! - I remember when she came in and broke the news that she was pregnant to us in the office! And then doing it again, to announce twins!!

Lulu DK is a blooming office of pregnancy these days! With Partner Laurie Costantino just having her little boy, and now the lovely Pia Miranda pregnant too!!! Just in time for the launch of the Lulu DK & Matouk Baby Linen line!!! And trust me - this line really is a slice of baby heaven!!!